If you really have to travel that far, try shifting your baby’s sleep schedule over a few days leading up to your departure and exposing him/her to sunlight once you reach your destination. Also be prepared that it’ll take some days for everybody to adjust to the new time zone.

3. Avoid the Wonder Weeks

Wonder Weeks are times when babies “learn” new skills and “perceive” the world around him/her. A wonder week is like a growth spurt for the brain. It happens quickly and over a relatively short period of time. And it is really upsetting to a baby. Thus, try to avoid travelling during these weeks if you can.

This Wonder Weeks Chart outlines when each “wonder week” happens so that you can plan ahead.

5. Pack extra

Always pack extra when you travel with kids, as it can be impossible to find the right size of diaper your kids are using. Or if there’s any diaper leak, spit-up, or other mess might require a change of clothes.

6. Bring only ONE big luggage for everyone

Pack everything you (I mean you parents + your little ones) need to ONE big luggage. It’s less tired having one big luggage than having small luggages. Remember you have a pram + a kid/kids on it to push also.

7. Bring extra (ready-to-use) formula

If you’re not breastfeeding, you know you have to bring along (ready-to-use) formula.

But even when you’re breastfeeding like me, I suggest that you should bring some extra formula with you. Why?

Because there can be some unexpected reasons that may affect your milk production (stress, lack of sleep, new food that upsets your stomach, and so on).

Also because there will be some circumstances in which you cannot or should not breastfeed. The last time we travelled to Gothenburg for the wedding of my roommate, I bottle-fed my baby in stead of breastfeeding as usual, after “disappearing” for half an hour during the ceremony to feed her, which totally failed as she wasn’t full enough to sleep.

You may say you will not travel for any occasion like that, but my advice is that it’s always better to have more than less.

8. Check with the transportation provider about luggages

You probably need a pram/stroller/car seat/pushchair/travel cot when you travel with kids. Usually you can have them as check-in luggage without paying any extra cost. However check with your transportation provider(s) to avoid misunderstanding.

If you’re travelling by plane, review the policies for bringing formula on board and hand the formula to security officers when you go through screening. Security officers may ask to test or screen the formula, however.

I’ve never travelled by plane with my baby, so I actually have no experience in this section. Please leave a comment if you have some and want to share with everybody.

9. And the last thing is that… you don’t have to travel with your kids

Hæh?

What I mean is that if you are not ready, you DON’T HAVE TO travel with your kids, just because that gorgeous kid travelled since 5 months young or this adorable baby travelled the world before turning one. Don’t let the peer pressure get you!

The most important thing is that you are relaxed and comfortable with this brand new experience: travelling with babies. If you are not now, well, then you still have 18 years more to travel with your kids.

Photo by photo-nic.co.uk nic on Unsplash

Having a kid, to almost everybody, is more than the fact that we now have a little human that relies 100% on us and love us to the moon and back. It is a life-altering experience. To me, it’s also the feeling of having my life extended.

Of course, saying goodbye to our previous life time and welcoming the new one with a baby is not easy at all. We first-time parents have to change ourselves from the littlest things. Also the way we travel. Where and how we should go, can the little giggles stand the flight, is he/she tired, does it have enough food/sleep… and other tons of questions.

I’m not any baby expert, nor travel-with-kids one. But I hope these basic information and tips may help you preparing and planning a nice trip with your sweetpea in the future!

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Hi there! I'm a freelance travel writer born and raised in Vietnam, got married to a Viking from Norway, and currently live in the countryside outside Oslo. I'm the founder and chief chronicler of Misa's Travel Blog.